Pop sensation Ariana Grande has sparked speculation about stepping away from the stage after revealing that her highly anticipated 2026 Eternal Sunshine Tour could mark the end of her career as a touring pop artist — at least for the foreseeable future.
In a recent appearance on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, Grande opened up about her mindset heading into the tour, describing it as her “one last hurrah — for now.” While careful not to make a definitive statement about retirement, she admitted that this upcoming run of shows might be her final major tour for a very long time.
“I’m incredibly excited about this small tour,” Grande shared. “But I think it might not happen again for a long, long, long, long time.”
Grande, now 32, reflected on how her artistic interests have evolved in recent years. After dedicating much of her career exclusively to pop music, she has been exploring creative avenues closer to her early passions, including musical theater and comedy. She emphasized that she wants to make career choices that feel “right in the moment” — prioritizing personal fulfillment and artistic growth over the traditional demands of the pop industry.
Her latest acting venture is the film Wicked: For Good, set for release this Friday, which she has been actively promoting. The project aligns with her renewed focus on diverse creative expressions outside of the pop concert circuit.
Grande first announced the Eternal Sunshine Tour in August, confirming that it will cover North America and the United Kingdom. The tour supports her 2024 studio album, Eternal Sunshine, and will officially commence in June 2026. This marks her first live tour since the Sweetener World Tour in 2019, following a six-year break from performing on stage.
In March 2025, she treated fans to an expanded edition of her album — Eternal Sunshine: Brighter Days Ahead — further building anticipation for the upcoming shows.
While Ariana Grande has refrained from labeling this tour as her official farewell, her comments suggest a deliberate step back from the demanding schedule of global touring. For fans, the Eternal Sunshine Tour offers a rare and possibly final opportunity to see her perform live in the near future.
